Xfesation-chambeb f fob making nitsogen



A. KAUFMAN.

FIXATION CHAMBER FOR MAKING NITROGEN COMPOUNDS. y

APPLICATION FILED MAY L191].

1 ,307,362. Patented June 24, 1919.

A TTOBNEY onrrno s'ra rns PA ENT oFFIoE.

ALFONSE KAUFMAN; OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIGNOB, .BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AIR REDUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED, AGORPOBATION OF NEW YORK.

'FmATION-CHAMBER FOR MAKING NITROGEN. COMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 24;, 1919.

Application filed May 2, 1917. Serial No. 165,359.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALFONSE KAUFMAN, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at New York. in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fixation- Chambers for Making Nitrogen Compounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to heating chambers. and more particularly to improved re orts or fixation chambers designed for interior gas or chemical reactions under heat applied externally.

One of the'objects of the invention is to provide improved. efficient and economical devices of the character mentioned which are mechanically strong. of good heat condm-tivitygand highly resistant to oxidation.

Other objects and advantages will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with a description of the accompanying drawing.

which illustrates a typical embodiment of the invention and in which the figure represents a sectional central view of the improved construction.

The apparatus shown is employed in the production of sodium cyanid by a treatment, of sodiumcarbonate with -arbonaceous material and with nitrogen under pressurc. i

Chemical reaction is effected in the retort under a relatively high temperature approximating 1000 C.

There is piovidcd for this purpose a suitable heating furnace 1 with an interior vertical retort or fixation chamber 2 extending therethrough. The retort is preferably tubular and constructed and arranged so that the. charge of material to be treated may be supplied thereto by removal of the covering 3 and may be withdrawn therefrom after treatment through a bottom opening 4-. In the particular process herein mentioned the, charge consists of an intimate mixture of sodium carbonate and carbonized material. such as coke or charcoal, both in powdered form. In one step of the process this charge is subjected to free or elementary nitrogen under pressure. which may enter by conduit 5 while the retort temperature is raised to about 1000 C. by means of the furnace.

In order to carry out such a process, that is, to effect chemical reactions at high heat between gases and solids, or gas reactions by distillation, it is desirable to have the con-- taining vessel or chamber of a mechanically strong material, which is also gas-tight at all temperatures employed. It is further desirable for purposes of commercial economy to provide reaction vessels which are I highly refractory and therefore not easily oxidized and thereby deteriorated.

To attain the ends mentioned, and others. I provide the retort 2 in the form of a tube of cast iron. mild steel, or similar inexpensive metal, with walls 6 of suflicient thickness tc be mechanically strong and to dura X bly withstand any tensile stress and gaspressu-re which may be applied thereto. There is further provided a protective coating or casing 7 at that portion of the retort which is subject. during operation. to the direct heatv and combustion products of the fUWJiICG. The casing 7 is of alloy sheeting. which also has the characteristic of good heat conductivity but which is less readily oxidizablc than the inner walls of cast iron.

It has been found that such an alloy as nickel and chromium in about equal part is very refractory and thatsuch oxidation thereof as occurs is well restricted to-its outer surface. Accordingly. the casing 7 is preferably .of such material which acts to thoroughly protect the cast iron wall (3. at the same time reinforcing the latter.

The two parts of the fixation chamber or retort may be assembled in any suitable manner: for example. by merely fitting the interior cast iron tube within the nickel chromium casing. or'by casting the latter directly about the. former.

lly the construction described there is provided a durable retort which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which admirably combines the qualities of mechanical strength. high heat conductivity and high resistance to oxidation; It is thoroughly gas-tight and of a character to facilitate the desired internal reactions without entailing extra fuel cost. Furthermore. on account of its good comluctivity. the internal chamber of the retort is quickly responsive to changes and control of the furnace tempcra -tures.

Having described iny invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reaction chamber, in combination, an interior chamber of material mechanically strong but relatively oxidizable, and an inclosing casin thereforof material relatively non-oxidlzable, the material ofboth said chamber and said casing having good heat conductivity.v v

2. In a reaction chamber, in combination,

an interior chamber of cast iron having rela-' tively thick walls, and a relatively thin protective casin therefor of nickel-chrom1um.

8. A reaction chamber comprising an iron tube, and a nickel-chromium casing fitted thereabout.

4. reaction chamber comprisin a relatively thick .walled tube of materia having high tensile strength and-good heat conductivity but relatively oxidizable, and a protective casing thereabout of material relatively non-oxidizable but also of good heat conductivity. v I

5. In apparatus for the treatment of an alkali metal compound with nitrogen under pressure and carbon at a relatively high temperature, in comblnatlon, a furnace, and

a fixation chamber therein for the material to be treated having a nickel-chromium exterior. I

6. In apparatus for the treatment of an alkalimetal compound with nitro en under pressure and carbon at a relatively high temperature, in combination a furnace, and a fixation chamber therein or the material to be treated having a nickel-chromium exterior and cast ironinterior.

7. An elongated reaction chamber of metal, for the purpose described, havingits exterior more resistant to oxidation than'its interior.

8. A reaction chamber adapted to be subjected to heat and comprising a metal tube and a thin walled shell of alloy surrounding the portion thereof to which heat is applied,

said alloy having a relatively high coeflicient of heat conductivity and being resistant to oxidation. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFON SE KAUFMAN. Witnesses:

J. L. Lmsvn, FRED D. REID. 7 

